Microsoft's Xbox 720 to arrive in 2012, Sneak peak: E3 2011

Update: According to EA;" This story is a total fabrication – 100 percent not true," EA vice president of communications Jeff Brown has this evening told other sites. Develop is sticking with their story; "Our source, as well as pinpointing key details of the kits' content, said that the unit had been seen at EA and could even be talked up at E3 to 'steal Wii 2's thunder'."

Original Story: While Nintendo has been making waves with rumors circulating about "Project Cafe", Microsoft is stealthily planning to introduce a successor to the Xbox 360 console sooner than many are expecting.

According to Develop; The successor to the Xbox 360 console is on desks at an unnamed Electronic Arts studio. The new hardware, sent to EA last month, is a very early build with no casing – it is in fact being stored inside a PC shell. EA developers are getting to grips with the tech to create first-generation software.

Develop has had great inside info in the past. Besides that inside scoop, Microsoft has advertised new job vacancies such as Graphics Hardware Architect and Performance Engineer for the Xbox Console Architecture Group. Microsoft’s new hires will be “responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation,” the company said.

With Microsoft's core gaming exclusives on ice, it may only make sense to steal some thunder from Nintendo and let the world know what they have up their sleeves. Also, factor in the current state of Sony's PSN being up shit's creek with out a paddle and the potential to not only steal some thunder but market share from Sony.

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Kinect hacks, performance art: pin boards, puppets, RoboThespian and a X-Ray Magic Mirror

Microsoft's Kinect has seen some very clever and innovative things done from researchers around the world with minimum budgets. Hopefully the game development community is keeping notes.

Kinect Hacks Video Below.


Kinect Hack: Humanoid Robot with Motion Sensing Technology, @Cebit 2011, Hannover - Germany



We Be Monsters :: A Collaborative Kinect Puppet



Kinect Hack: Pin Boards


Kinect Hack: X-Ray Magic Mirror

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NanoGeekTechTV presents: Ninja Gaiden 3 Teaser Trailer

To kick off GDC, Tecmo Koei has released a short teaser trailer:



Source:[Youtube]

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Alert Shoppers: Fight Night Champion, Beyond Good & Evil HD

The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending March 5th, 2011.

Games Released in the United States:

Nintendo Wii:
- Bit.Trip Flux (online)
- Chuck E. Cheese's Sports Games
- Rango: The Video Game

Xbox 360:
- Beyond Good & Evil HD (online)
- Fight Night Champion
- Rango: The Video Game

PlayStation 3:
- Fight Night Champion
- Rango: The Video Game

Nintendo DS:
- Busy Scissors
- Mahjong Journey: Quest for Tikal
- Minute to Win It
- Puzzle Expedition
- Rango: The Video Game

PC:
- Fate of the World (online)
- The Flying Dutchman
- Perfect World International: Genesis
- Rift
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution

EA's Fight Night series sequel Fight Night Champion debuts on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in North America this week, joining the multiplatform animated film tie-in  Rango.

A remake of Ubisoft's Beyond Good & Evil headlines downloadable offerings on the Xbox 360, while Wii owners will soon see the final entry in Gaijin's Bit.Trip rhythm-action series.

Games Released in Europe:

Nintendo Wii:
- Bit.Trip Flux (online)
- uDraw Pictionary
- uDraw Studio

Xbox 360:
- Beyond Good & Evil HD (online)
- Fight Night Champion

PlayStation 3:
- Fight Night Champion
- Hyperdimension Neptunia

Nintendo DS:
- Hidden Photo
- Hollywood Files: Deadly Intrigues
- Lost Identities
- Pokemon Black Version
- Pokemon White Version

PC:
- Rift
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution

Nintendo's latest Pokemon series sequels Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version make an early English-language debut in the UK this week, arriving two days in advance of their scheduled stateside release date.

Games Released in Japan:

Xbox 360:
- Fight Night Champion

PlayStation 3:
- Fight Night Champion
- Samurai Dou 4

Nintendo 3DS:
- Shanghai 3D Cube
- Super Monkey Ball 3D

Nintendo DS:
- Digimon Story: Super Xros Wars Blue
- Digimon Story: Super Xros Wars Red
- Tobidase! Kagaku-kun Chikyuu Daitanken! Nazo no Chinkai Seibutsu ni Idome!

PlayStation Portable:
- Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy
- Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto - Ginga Bishounen Densetsu

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Conspiracy Sunday's: Is the Main-Stream Gaming Media Tainted?

The current virtual guerrilla warfare being waged on the Internet has the Main-Stream Gaming media to blame.

The battle between console owners has been a fierce battle of the words with some trolling with elegant grace. In my many years in gaming I've  never seen the gaming community so fractured and segmented before. Many may ask "why has gaming become a rabid angry war of words?".  I believe the answer lies in the way the "Main-Stream Gaming Media" goes about doing it's business.

Today we will look into the a  popular gaming website and I will provide my opinion on why, I believe there is a hidden or tainted agenda when it comes to Main-Stream Gaming Media. Please be advised that my views are based on the all mighty dollar aka: "Cha Ching".

IGN.com

"New York, NY, September 8, 2005 - News Corporation announced today that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire IGN Entertainment, Inc, a leading community-based Internet media and services company for video games and other forms of digital entertainment, for approximately $650 million in cash"  Coincidentally the Xbox 360 was released on November 22nd, 2005, in the United States and Canada; December 2nd, 2005, in Europe and December 10th, 2005, in Japan. The PlayStation 3 was later launched in Japan on November 11th 2006 at 07:00 and in United States on  November 17th 2006.

Oh and let us not forget "Jan. 6, 2011— GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and multi-channel entertainment software retailer, and IGN Entertainment, the leading online media network for video game enthusiasts, have announced an exclusive, large-scale partnership that combines content from IGN with expert review content from Game Informer Magazine to make GameStop.com a single destination for gamers who want to maximize their game experience."

Now you may be asking how the fuck does all this ties into the main-stream gaming media being tainted.  Well, for one News Corp and Microsoft have a very special relationship.  Back in 2009 Wired.com wrote an article about NewsCorp threatening to pull the company’s news articles from Google and putting them on Microsoft search engines instead, in return for an undisclosed payment. In April 2008 Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation was in talks with Microsoft about joining in its contested bid for Yahoo, according to people involved in the discussions.

Conspiracy Theory:  NewsCorp purchases IGN in September for $650 million dollars the following month Microsoft's Xbox 360 debut's 364 days before the PS3.  During this time period and beyond IGN has had a love feast with all thing Xbox related. Back in August 2007 it was revealed by Metafuture a new game review watchdog blog that inflates or deflates a review score based upon the reviewers history of awarding that score multiple times. The analysis of both IGN and Gamespot reviews revealed a large rightward shift of the good 'ole bell curve, possibly confirming what many have believed for years (cough, cough; "get'n pay'd to review games").

IGN's average review score was a whopping 8.0, and the site heavily favors evenly rounded scores. Gamespot, while a little more balanced and even in their curve, has an average review of 7.0. So either there are a butt load of great games we're overlooking, or something fishy is going on.

Now also consider IGN's one year honeymoon with the only next generation video game console on  the market.  Ad dollars and hits enables a large site to survive.  With many developers debuting their games on Xbox 360 during it's launch, they had to let millions of gamers around the world know their game existed.   The best way to accomplish this besides television ads,will be a large main-stream gaming website with 28 million unique users(IGN).  So in theory developers paid IGN to have their games get favorable review scores to help cement the early success of the Xbox 360.

There is something strange going on this generation in gaming, there is no denying it.  The proof is out there in the open, the way the gaming community is so segmented.  And not let's forget the total imbalance of review scoring that we see across the board between PS3 and Xbox 360 games. You may call me crazy or delusional, but there are unscrupulous and shady back door dealings going on in the main-stream gaming media, money is being exchanged in indirect ways and direct ways-to ensure a "Console King" is crowned.

[Sources: Wiki, IGN,WSJ,Metefuture,Wired]

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NanoGeekTechTV presents:Dead Island Trailer

It's alive, DeepSilver’s formally confirmed it’s to publish Techland’s Dead Island with a release in 2011. The publisher also confirmed that a PS3 version was in the works. The game was previously a PC and 360 exclusive.

The game is set in a first-person perspective on a tropical island. It’ll have a heavy focus on “character development and customisation” as well as a “vast array of weapons” with melee being a heavy focus due to “firearms and ammunition being scarce.”

Dead Island will have four-player co-op as well.

Dead Island Announcement Trailer:

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Window Phone 7 as a Controller for Microsoft Kinect?

Microsoft's Kinect has been a mega-hit for Microsoft, behind a half a billion dollar ad campaign. One thing that may hinder the overall longevity of Kinect is the lack of buttons. It looks like Microsoft may have a solution for those of you fretting about this blatant omission.

Microsoft has release video, showing off the new Window Phone 7 being compatible with Kinect. Check the video out ofter the jump. Will this now entice you to purchase a Kinect and a Window Phone?

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Darkness II Coming Fall 2011

2K Games has officially announced The Darkness II for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. The sequel to The Darkness will be released in fall 2011 and will not be developed by Starbreeze Studios this time around. Instead, the game is being developed by Digital Extremes, the team responsible for Dark Sector and the PS3 port of BioShock.

The Darkness II takes place two years after the events of the first game. Jackie Estacado, who is now a mob boss, hasn’t been using his supernatural powers since he avenged his girlfriend’s murder. After an unprovoked attack on his life, a mob war breaks out and the powers of The Darkness are once again unleashed.

The game will feature “Quad-Wielding” gameplay mechanics that will allow players to use their Demon Arms to decimate enemies while simultaneously blasting them with both weapons in hand. Comic book writer Paul Jenkins will be providing a narrative that promises to “weave dark humor with hardcore tenderness.”

Darkness was one of my favorite games at the beginning of this generation, I just hope Digital Extremes do this great game justice.

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PS3 Call of Duty: Black Ops patch released, adds features and fixes host of problems

Activision and Treyarch have released the latest patch for the PlayStation 3 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops in an effort to add a few new multiplayer features and fix a whole mess of issues, both major and minor, while also aiming to tune and balance a few gameplay concerns

I’ve included the full list of changes, additions and fixes for CoD: Black Ops multiplayer on PS3, introduced with patch 1.06, below:

New Features:

New contracts added to the rotation.
Added optional pre-match timer for LAN / System-Link games.
Issues Addressed:

• Fixed freeze associated with larger games.
• Improved reliability of players connections to one another.
• Improved ability to bring parties to the game lobby. Late party joiners would try to connect to previous lobby host and be denied if new joiners trigger a lobby host migration.
• Addressed an issue where the Host encounters and infinite spinning loading circle after a Host migration.
• Fixed a timing specific, long/infinite loading screen when joining games (sometimes giving you “Error – Read error (0×80010713) on file ”).
• Fixed a timing-specific freeze when host powered down during host migration.
• Cleaned up the map search filter in the Community section (deleted unused entries).
• Fixed Combat Training’s “USE FRIENDS” option for bots names.
• Fixed issue with split-screen guest profile names being blank, resulting in matches never launching.
• Instead of showing the generic “Player” for offline profiles in LAN, we now display the PS3 profile name.
• Fixed Friends list appearing after viewing a Friends Playercard from the Leaderboards.
• Fixed filter so players can now view Friends on Zombies leadboards.
• Fix timing specific issue where the game can be put into slow motion.
• Addressed “disconnected path” error when using the doors in Radiation after a host migration.
• Fixed stability issues navigating lobbies after client on Split Screen Zombies quits out of a game.
• Addressed issue/exploit when removing Counter Spy Plane effects with the Jammer.
• Fixed a freeze when quickly loading maps one after another in private match.
• Fixed issue where players get primary weapons in Second Chance.
• Fixed “NEW” stamp not disappearing for Custom Slot 9 when highlighting the slot.
• Removed water vision effect when respawning after dying in the acid pool in Radiation.
• Several contract fixes.

Gameplay Tuning:

• Second Chance – players that put an enemy into Second Chance are now credited for a full kill once that enemy dies. If another player kills the enemy while the enemy is in Second Chance, they will get assist credit.
• Adjustments to the PSG1 with attachments.
• AK74U adjustments.
• RCXD adjustments.
• Silenced sniper rifle adjustments.
• Removed hit markers when shooting friendly equipment

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Call Of Duty: Black Ops: First Strike Trailer

We all know Microsoft spent a small kings ransom for the timed exclusive DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops. The DLC, called First Strike, features four new multiplayer maps and an additional zombie mode. Of the maps, Stadium and Kowloon look the most interesting from a visual perspective.

DLC First Strike will launch sometime in February 2011 on Xbox 360 and eventually see the light on PS3 in April.

Call of Duty: Black Ops: First Strike DLC Video

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Attention Shoppers: Developer Confirms BioShock Infinite PS3 Is 'Not A Port'

Ports on the Sony PS3 is usually a very bad word, they are more exceptions lately, as developers finally get the grip of the PS3. Developer Irrational Games wants to assure gamers that BioShock Infinite for the PS3 will not be a port.

Posting on its site, Technical Director Chris Kline wrote: “We're serious about making sure the PS3 version is great, and here's a little info on how we're going about doing it.

“We have no plans to hand off the PS3 version of BioShock Infinite to another studio. In fact, it's not a "port" at all. We have a much larger team than we did on the original BioShock, so we're doing simultaneous in-house development on the PS3, 360, and PC versions of the game.


“We all know that the PS3 is powerful but unique console with its own strengths and challenges. But compared to the PC, the Xbox 360 is challenging too. So instead of declaring a "lead platform" and porting the game to the others, we've instead changed the game engine so that all platforms look (to a programmer) more like a PS3. This means implementing a task-oriented task processor that assumes a NUMA (non-uniform memory access) design that mimics the PPU/SPU split of the PS3. Writing code this way is more difficult for us, but has a key advantage: it's both optimal for the PS3 *and* gives speed improvements on other platforms due to increased cache coherence and more efficient use of multiple processing units.


“All of our programmers have PS3 and 360 dev kits on their desks, and can test on the PS3 just as easily as on the 360. To make sure we find and fix problems as quickly as possible, we have a "continuous integration automated build system" that rebuilds the PS3 version and runs basic tests on it every time a programmer or artist makes a change to the game. It even emails them right away if they break something. In addition, we've also built tools that allow artists and designers to instantly check whether or not their levels will fit in memory on all three platforms, without ever leaving the editor"

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Call of Duty: Black Ops PS3/360: How to Change your NAT to Open for Verizon Fios & etc.

I know for a fact that getting your NAT type open can be a pain in the ass, especially with Verizon Fios. So I decided put this list together to help anyone out there that is currently having issues playing the all mighty cash cow; Call of Duty: Black Ops.

FYI: To get the best online playing experience with Call of Duty: Black Ops it is recommended that your NAT Type be Open. So I hope this helps.

If you still have any issues especially with Verizon Fios, please leave me a comment and I can see what I can do to help. I currently have my NAT type Open on Verizon Fios.

How to Change your NAT type Videos after the jump.


How to open your Verizon NAT type for xbox 360



How to open your NAT on Verizon



How to configure Advanced Port Forwarding on the MI424WR Verizon FiOS Router



Port Forwarding - How To



How to change your nat type to open on PS3


Perfect Gaming Internet Connection Guide (PS3)

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Microsoft's Kinect get's it's first Hardcore Game Kinda

Microsoft's Kinect has seen many intriguing and fascinating hacks. But this has to be the most perverted of them all. Sex video game maker ThriXXX claims it has built a Kinect-based interface for its brand of sex video games, which seem to involve sliding your hands across computer generated T&A for shit and giggles.

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Medal of Honor release date set for Fall 2010

EA's clarified the release window for its new modern day Medal of Honor, via the newly-launched official website.

"Fall 2010" is when you can expect to buy the Afghanistan-set shooter, a game that EA's already promising will deliver a "world-class Medal of Honor that is poised to re-set and re-boot the franchise for a new generation."

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EA set to release a New ‘Medal of Honor’

Press Release
December 2, 2009

EA GOES TO WAR WITH ALL-New ‘Medal of Honor’

EA Reinvents Franchise with New Development Teams, New Soldier, New Setting

LOS ANGELES, California – December 2, 2009 – Medal of Honor™ returns to the front lines, this time in today’s war. For the first time in the franchise’s 10-year history, Medal of Honor is leaving the WWII theatre and putting players in war-torn Afghanistan. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed that in 2010, Medal of Honor, an all-new first-person shooter game, will introduce the Tier 1 Operator: a relatively unknown entity directly under the National Command Authority who takes on missions no one else can handle. The development team has been working closely with Tier 1 Operators from the U.S. Special Operations Community since the earliest stages of development to create the most authentic modern war experience. Medal of Honor depicts modern military operations through the lens of a small band of fictional characters. Inspired by real events, Medal of Honor reveals the mission of today’s most elite American soldier – his will, his mindset and his uncompromising professionalism.

Medal of Honor is being built with a best-in-class single-player campaign. The Medal of Honor development team at EALA has been hand-selected by the studio leadership of General Manager Sean Decker, Executive Producer Greg Goodrich and Senior Creative Director Rich Farrelly. To compliment the single-player experience, EALA has enlisted the multiplayer expertise at EA DICE. This team will develop the multiplayer experience of Medal of Honor. These two studios are coming together to deliver a world-class Medal of Honor that is poised to re-set the franchise for a new generation.

“When we first set out to reinvent Medal of Honor, we wanted to stay true to its roots of authenticity and respect for the soldier but bring it into today’s war. The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war.” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor. “We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”

“EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames,” said Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA. “We are so proud to bring together two powerhouse development teams to make this game a reality; EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. Medal of Honor promises to be an unforgettable entry in the modern shooter genre.”

Follow us on twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/medalofhonor. Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/medalofhonor. For additional information and news, visit www.medalofhonor.com.

###

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA Mobile TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, POGO and Medal of Honor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Contact:
Amanda Taggart
Senior PR Manager
650-628-2974
ataggart@ea.com

Tammy Schachter
Senior Director, PR
650-628-7223
tschachter@ea.com

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Ubisoft Reveals Motion-Control Plans: 15 Games For PS3 And 360

During a recent conference call, Ubisoft's CEO Yves Guillemot revealed that his company is planning to release ten games for Microsoft's Project Natal motion control system and four to five games for Sony's mysterious motion control system.

"We have about ten games that will come for Natal during the first six months of the launch of Natal, and we expect between four to five games for the new controller from Sony," Guillemot sad. "That's the picture at the moment, it can change in the next twelve months."

Via:[Joystiq]

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PS3 Leads Japanese Hardware Sales Again

Sony PS3 beating the competition in Japan is becoming a trend if not the norm

A 13,000 increase in weekly sales saw Sony’s home console overtake Nintendo DSi, which took second place ahead of PSP-3000.

Sony’s handheld platform managed to outsell Nintendo’s when taking into account sales of all models, despite the fact that PSPgo sales dropped more than half during the portable’s second week on the market. Sony needs to lower the price of the PSPGo, I really do not understand their logic.

Weekly hardware sales (previous week):

PS3 - 48,925 (36,061)
DSi - 37,421 (37,517)
PSP – 33,784 (34,911)
Wii - 31,810 (28,888)
PSPgo - 13,992 (29,109)
DS Lite - 5,515 (6,902)
Xbox 360 – 4,679 (6,047)
PS2 – 2,066 (1,966)

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Dead Space 2 adds Multiplayer

The internet without speculation and rumors is just not the internet. Dead Space 2 has been rumored to be in the works for a 2010 release. From what we know, it's definitely happening, but it's nothing we can declare as fact until we have the press release in our hand, because this is the way the videogame industry works. With that in mind, here's the latest evidence, a job listing from EA that seems to reveal the mode.

Electronic Arts is currently looking for a "Senior Online Level Designer" to work on the Dead Space franchise. Applicants must be able to "Conceptualize, script, direct, and build online levels for the game." The game in question is not explicitly listed as Dead Space 2, but it is referenced as a Dead Space game on the PS3 and Xbox 360. What else could it be?

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Modern Warfare 2 breaks bank OMFG

Activision's has officially detailed the first day Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 sales in North America and the UK, in which it says was the biggest entertainment launch in history and I repeat "In fucking history".

In its first 24 hours Modern Warfare 2 racked up $310 million in sales in the two regions, says Activision.

That's 4.7 million copies, the company estimates - not far off the 7 million global sales predicted this morning.

"The Call of Duty franchise has become a cultural phenomenon showing the power of video games as an entertainment medium," said Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith.

"The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the Call of Duty brand delivers," he added.

During the ongoing BMO Capital Markets Digital Entertainment Conference in New York, COO of interactive entertainment business Dennis Durkin stated the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has doubled up the PlayStation 3.

"Initial feedback from retailers is that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 [on Xbox 360] has outsold the PS3 2:1," he said.

Durkin also stated this past Tuesday was the largest day on Xbox Live ever, with over two million concurrent players on at a given time. He also touted the service by taking a jab at Sony, saying Xbox Live had no server issues even with such a large number.

PlayStation 3 owners suffered server outages due to demand, but Infinity Ward was able to fix the problem in less than a day. Way to go Infinity Ward.

"Modern Warfare 2 has taken interactive experience to unprecedented heights setting a new standard for entertainment."

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Alan Wake gets a Release Window, no seriously

Microsoft;s Xbox 360 most wanted title get's a release window, finally

According to MCV, Alan Wake has been confirmed to be released in May 2010 simultaneously around the world. The 360 exclusive looks very promising and is one of the few 360 titles on my must have list. Previously given a Spring 2010 release, the action-thriller was shown off at E3, hopefully Microsoft will attach at a date in a future announcement.

Just to throw a little speculation into the mix, I believe Alan Wake will be part of the all new Xbox 360+ Natal launch. And to make the hype be larger than life why not implement Natal. We will have to wait until May 2010 to see more of Alan Wake and Natal.

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